Victims of Crime: Consequences and the aftermath of victimization
This is the third in a series of blog posts regarding victims of crime in Canada. In the second post I mentioned the importance of root causes of crime and building resiliency. This blog looks at the consequences of being a victim of crime and some of the issues they experience.
Prevention is important, but so is assisting victims to deal with the trauma they have experienced. The more likely a victim is to receive support from people close to them, the more likely they are to seek professional help. Having support from people close to victims, and seeking professional help, allows victims to deal with the consequences of being a victim of crime in a constructive way.
One of the major consequences of being a victim of crime is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD symptoms include terrifying memories, avoiding reminders of the trauma, increased anxiety and sleep disturbances. These symptoms usually begin three months after the trauma occurs, but may surface years later.
In addition to PTSD, victims may use substances to deal with the consequences of their victimization. Victims may engage in substance use to mask the pain they experience. This is important to be aware of when working with victims, or those with substance use issues.
Resources used in this post:
The Impact of Victimization (Pdf)
The Impacts and Consequences of Criminal Victimization
Correlations between Substance Abuse and Victimization (Video)
Author: Tracie McGrath-Levis
Tracie McGrath-Levi is a completing a student placement with WRCPC and has contributed previous posts to Smart on Crime. In addition to completing her Bachelor of Social Work degree at Renison College, University of Waterloo, Tracie works full-time with the John Howard Society in Milton. In her role there Tracie works in court four days a week in an adult diversion program and in bail.